Connector having an operable member

Abstract

A connector ( 1 ) has a lever ( 20 ) to facilitate connection with a mating connector ( 2 ). The lever ( 20 ) has a detector ( 30 ) normally held at a standby position. However, the detector ( 30 ) can be displaced to a detecting position when the lever ( 20 ) reaches a connection position, thereby detecting a properly connected state of the connectors ( 1, 2 ).

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A connector, comprising: 
       a connector main body,  
       an operable member having two arms supported on the connector main body and being movable between an initial position and a connection position, each arm being formed with a cam means for engaging a corresponding cam means of a mating connector, the cam means and the mating cam means being engaged when the operable member is at an initial position and the connector main body and the mating connector are connected lightly, and wherein the two connectors are pulled toward each other and connected by cam action of the cam means and the mating cam means when the operable member is moved from the initial position towards the connection position, and  
       a detector mounted on the operable member, the detector being held normally at a standby position and permitted to be displaced to a detecting position to detect a properly connected state of the two connectors when the operable member reaches the connection position, the detector comprising a displacing portion to displace the detector from the standby position to the detecting position, the detector having legs integral with the displacing portion and projecting from opposite ends of the displacing portion, each leg having a lock and a lock cavity being formed in each side surface of the connector body at locations facing the legs, the lock cavities being dimensioned for receiving the locks.  
     
     
       2. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the operable member a lever supported on the connector main body, the connectors connected with each other by rotating the lever. 
     
     
       3. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein when the detector reaches the detecting position, the locks and the lock cavities engage to lock the operable member so as not to move. 
     
     
       4. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the arms are bridged by an operable portion. 
     
     
       5. The connector of  claim 2 , wherein the displacing portion is near the operable portion. 
     
     
       6. A connector comprising: 
       a connector main body,  
       an operable member having two arms supported on the connector main body and being movable between an initial position and a connection position, each arm being formed with a cam means for engaging a corresponding cam means of a mating connector, the cam means and the mating cam means being engaged when the operable member is at an initial position and the connector main body and the mating connector are connected lightly, and wherein the two connectors are pulled toward each other and connected by cam action of the cam means and the mating cam means when the operable member is moved from the initial position towards the connection position,  
       a detector mounted on the operable member, the detector being held normally at a standby position and permitted to be displaced to a detecting position to detect a properly connected state of the two connectors when the operable member reaches the connection position, the detector comprising a displacing portion adapted to displace the detector from the standby position to the detecting position, the detector having legs integral with the displacing portion and projecting from the opposite ends of the displacing portion, and  
       wherein the operable member is a lever, an arcuate portion substantially concentric with the center of rotation of the lever is provided on each side surface of the connector main body substantially facing the leg, the lock being held substantially in sliding contact with the arcuate surface to hold the detector at the standby position as the lever is rotated.  
     
     
       7. The connector of  claim 6 , wherein each leg has a lock, and the connector main body being has a lock cavity in each side surface thereof facing the leg lock cavity being dimensioned for receiving the corresponding lock. 
     
     
       8. The connector of  claim 6 , wherein the lock cavity is formed at an end position of the arcuate surface where the lock is engaged with the lock cavity to locate the lever at the connection position and is recessed in radially inward direction to receive the lock. 
     
     
       9. The connector of  claim 8 , wherein: 
       the detector is mounted such that the legs thereof are at the inner sides of the corresponding arms of the lever,  
       each arm being formed with an engaging window in the shape of a long hole extending substantially in radial direction from the center of rotation of the lever, and  
       each lock bulges out to fit in the engaging window from inside.  
     
     
       10. The connector of  claim 9 , wherein the displacing portion is located at a rear side with respect to an operating direction of the lever toward the connection position. 
     
     
       11. The connector according of  claim 9 , wherein: 
       the arms are coupled to each other by the detector, the legs are held in engagement with the arms, and  
       the displacing portion bridges the arms to enable the operable member to be operated above the connector main body.  
     
     
       12. The connector of  claim 9 , wherein the detector is exposed to the outside by a window in at least one of the arms. 
     
     
       13. A connector, comprising: 
       a connector main body having opposite sides and a lock cavity formed in each said side;  
       a lever having an operable portion and two arms projecting from opposite ends of the operable portion, the arms being supported on the sides of the connector main body for rotation between an initial position and a connection position, each arm being formed with a cam means for facilitating connection with a mating connector; and  
       a detector having a displacing portion in proximity to the operable portion of the lever, legs projecting from the displacing portion and slidably engaged with arms of the lever, the detector being movably substantially radially inwardly relative to the lever and the connector main body from a standby position to a detecting position when the lever reaches the connection position, ends of the legs remote from the displacing portion defining locks for engaging in the lock cavities of the connector main body for locking the lever in the connection position when the detector is in the detecting position.  
     
     
       14. The connector of  claim 13 , wherein the sides of the connector main body each have an arcuate portion substantially concentric with a center of rotation of the lever, the lock being held substantially in sliding contact with the arcuate surface to hold the detector at the standby position as the lever is rotated. 
     
     
       15. The connector of  claim 14 , wherein the lock cavity is formed at an end of the arcuate surface.